False roof for motor vehicles



March 1 9 J. w. HARVEY FALSE-ROOF FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Fil April 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 I March 15,1927. HARVEY 5 FALSE ROOF FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed pril 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 itmmgi Patented 15, 1927.

JoHNw. HARVEY, 01 DENVER, "COLORADO.

FALSE ROOF FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

' Application fi1ed-April 15, 1925. Serial No. 23,325.

This invention relates to an improved false roof for motor vehicles and seeks, among "other objects, to provide a covering for shading the roof of a vehicle whereby toreduce Ii the temperaturewithin the vehicle;

.The invention seeks, as a further object, to provide a false roof which may be readily applied or-removed, and wherein air will be permitted to freely circulate between the false roof and the roof- 0f the vehicle. for

cooling the vehicle roof. f

A still furtherobjectof the invention is to provide a false roof-'embodyingfa number of moisture'pads arranged between'the false roof cover and the roof of the vehicle so that the air circulating between said 'co'ver and the vehicle roofzwillevaporate the moisture from I said pads, and thereby .effecta pronounced cooling action through such evaporation. 7

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a; device which will be neat and attractivein appearance andwhich will be well adapted for general use. v V

Other and incidental objects will appear hereinafter.

I In the accompanying drawings:

. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional motor vehicle equipped with my I improved false'roof. t

Figure 2 is a bottomplanview showing the roof in detail; a Figure 3 is a transverse sectional'view particularly showing the disposition of the mois I ture pads employed. L I Figures 4 and 5 are detail sectional-views particularly showing the mountingvof the "false roof.

. Figure 6 is an ed e elevation showing a slight modification o the invention.

Fi re 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showlng a further slight modification.' Figure 8 is ,a fragmentary bottom plan view showing a still further modified structure.

drawings, I have shown the present invention in connection w1th a conventional .motor vehicle having a closed body 10, the roof of a which is indicated at l1. However, it is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable for use in connection with the tops ofvehicles of theopen type andv I do not, therefore, wish to be limited in this regard but, for the purposes of the present disclosure, will describe the invention in con and is mounted above the roof 11 in register- -curved hooks 19 extending freely through the Referring now more particularly to the 10 of-the vehicle between the side rails, in parallel relation,

are end bows or struts 13 as well as interme .diate bows or struts 14',all of which may also beof wood. Overlyingtheframe is a moisture-proof covering 15 of any approved material. This cover' is, however, preferably of the same flexible materialprevalently em- .ployed to formthe roof coverings of motor vehicle bodies or tops and may be tacked or otherwise securedto the side rails 12 and end bows 1310f the frame. I As shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, the false roof is of the same outside dimensions as the roof-"11 of the vehicle top 10 7 '5) ing relation thereto. In any instance where the device; is constructed for use in connection 'withlthetop of a vehicle of the open type, the false roof will, of course, be of a length equal to'theleng th ofv the'roof of the top and will be mounted to register therewith, as suggested in the present disclosure.- A neat appearance of the device, whenapplied, is thus had, and if the roof-of either the open; or closed vehicle is long, the false -ro'o'f may-be'divided transversely into a numj ber of mating sections so as to facilitate the at oneside thereof are, as shown in detail in Figure 4, angle-shaped hinge plates 16, the upstanding ends of which are provided with slots 17, and fixed to one side rail of the frame of the false roof are angle-shaped hinge plates 18, the downwardly extending ends. of which are formed with laterally slots 17 w and hi'ngedly mounting the false roof. Fixed to the roof 11 adjacent its opposite side are spaced Z-shaped brackets 20, the free ends of which are equipped with appropriate'turn-bnttons 21, and fixed to the adj acentside rail of the frame of the false roof to rest against the brackets 20', are similar brackets 22.- The free ends of the brackets 22 are apertured to receive the buttons 21 so that, as will be seen, after the false roof has been swung down into position, the buttons 21 may be-turned for locking the false roof. in place. Furthermore, this construction v provides an arrangement whereby the false v s e,

roof. The pad may be of side edges thereof.

roof may be readily swung up to expose the roof of the vehicle while, when so desired, the hooks 19 may he slipped from the slots 17 of the brackets 16 and the false roof-displaced. As suggested in Figure 1, the false roof is slightly curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the roof 11 and is supported in uniform spaced relation with respect to the roof 11, while, as shownin Figure 3, the top covering is extended at the side rails 12 to form side flaps 15 overlying and concealing the brackets and plates mounting the false roof.

Fixed to the forward end of thereof of the vehicle body are, as particularly shown in Figure 1, transversely spaced screws or studs 23 and removably secured by said studs is a moisture pad 24 resting upon said feltor other approved material and is provided at its forward end with straps 25 removably engaging over the studs 23 for anchoring the pad thereto. The pad extends to the rear end of I the roof 11 and also closely approaches the As will now be seen view of the forethe false roof will shade the roof 11 of the vehicle body and will thereby tend to reduce the temperature within the vehicle body.

Furthermore, in mounting the false roof in spaced relation to the roof 11, provision is made whereby air may freely circulate therebetween. Accordingly, 'when the pad 24 is saturated with water, the air circulating between the false roof and the roof of the vehicle will cause the moisture to evaporof course, furthe'rtend to reduce ate from the pad and this evaporation will,

the temperature within the vehicle body. vice will, therefore, appreciably contribute toward the more comfortable riding'condiv tions of the vehicle.

. in connection with long vehicle tops; In

In Figure 6 of the drawings, I haveillustrated a slight modification of the invention particularly adapting'the' false roof for use this modified structure, the frame of the false roof is formed of aplurality of mating sections. 26 toextend fromsidezto side of the roof of the vehicle and, as shown these sections are preferably provided with lap joints, as indicated at 27. Each of the sections is preferably equipped with a pair of the plates 18 and 22,'as illustrated in connection with the prior embodimentaof the invention, so that the sections may be separately applied and, as will be understood,

The de-- rails connected by a pair of end rails like the frame of the prior embodiment of the invention, so as to provide a rigid structure. If desired, dowel pins 27' may be employed to hold the sections together. Otherwise, this modification of the invention is identical with the structure first described. y

In Figure 7 of'the drawings, I have illustrated a further slight modification of the invention which is also intended for connection with long vehicle roofs. In this modification, the frame of the false roof is formed of a plurality of mating sections 28 similar to the sections 26 of Figure 6, and in order that the frame of the false roof may use in be readily positioned to conform to the long1- V tudinal contourof the roof of the vehicle, the sections 28 are connected with each other by'hinge plates 29. Otherwise, fied structure is identical with-the embodiment of tlie'invention first described.

In Figure 8. of the drawings, I have illustrated .a still further modified structure wherein the false roof is provided with a frame 30 like the frame of the false roof first described with the exception that the frame 30 is provided with diagonal struts 3,1, and secured to the frame beneath the roof cover is a wire backing- 32 for said cover. The backing 32 will thus support flu-(:1 cover between the struts of the frame .an ranged in the form of an aerial loop so that said backing may, if desired, be employed as an aerial for a- .radio set carried in the.

vehicle to which the false roof is applied.

Having thus described the invention, what ering, stretched over and extended at oppothis modi- 3 as suggested in the drawings, is arsite sides to form flaps, of bracket members secured to opposite sidesbf the main roof,

compleinental bracket members secured to opposite sides .of the frame of the auxiliary roof, said bracket members supporting the auxiliary roof spaced above the. main roof,

and fastening means for' securing the bracket-members to hold the auxiliary roof in place, the supporting brackets and fastening'means being concealed-by the said flaps.

' In testimony whereof I aflix' my signature.

JoHN w. HARVEY. [n 8.] 

